The south Wales valleys suffer with some of the worst chronic health problems in the UK. A KESS studentship working with Cardiff Metropolitan University was supported by VRP through Groundwork Wales to study the physiological and psychological benefits of ‘Green Exercise’

Data from the study, which are now being published, have identified novel mechanisms by which ‘Green Exercise’ might be beneficial for physical and mental health and provide support for the continuation and development of Green Exercise’programnmes. The PhD student Jane Thompson successfully passed her PhD in 2014.

These findings suggest that exercise-induced down-regulation of MMP-9 may contribute to reduced ECM degradation and therefore ameliorate vascular remodelling. Additional studies are needed to explore these findings further; however, these data may provide a biomolecular mechanism for aerobic exercises ability to delay age-related increases in arterial stiffening.